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Enlightenment Thinkers DBQ
Enlightenment Thinkers DBQ
“All men are naturally born in a state of perfect freedom, equal and
independent to act how they want to. The state of nature has a law that
governs it. This law of nature obliges (requires) that no one should harm
another in his natural rights to life, liberty, and property (possessions).
“All men are naturally born in a state of perfect freedom. They are equal
and independent, and can act how they want to. This state of nature is
governed by a law of nature. The law of nature says that no one should
harm another person in his natural rights to life, liberty, and property
(possessions).
To maintain (keep) this natural state of freedom and equality, men agree
to join together into a community to live comfortable, peaceful lives, and
also to have security against any people that might desire to harm them
and take away their nature rights. When every individual in a
community has agreed to join together, the community has made a
government.
Men agree to enter into society to preserve (keep) their natural rights to
life, liberty, and property. Because of this, when the government tries to
take away or destroy the life, liberty, or property of the people, the
government puts itself in a state of war with the people. At this point, the
people do not need to obey the government anymore.
“Nature has made men so equal in with regards to the body and mind
that the difference from man to another man is not so considerable (not
very much).
In order to live a more contented (happy) life and escape that miserable
condition of war, men must give up their freedom to the State
(government). The power of the State must be absolute (complete, total)
in order to keep men in awe, and tie them by fear of punishment to the
performance of their covenants (moral agreements) with one another.
“Nature has made men so equal in with regards to how strong and smart
they are that there is not much difference between two men.
Because men are so similar in ability, if any two men desire the same
thing, they compete for it and become enemies. When this happens, and
if there is no strong government to keep them all in check, they will start
a war with each other.
In order to live a more happy life and escape that miserable condition of
war, men must give up their freedom to the government. The power of
the government must be absolute (complete, total) in order to keep men
in check, and in order to force them by fear of punishment to treat each
other kindly.
In every government there are three kinds of power. These are the
legislative, the executive, and the judicial powers.
There would be no freedom if the same man or the same group of men
controlled those three powers at once. This man or group of men would
have complete control over all parts of the law. They could create
tyrannical laws or enforce them like a tyrant. They could plunder (loot)
the country by their general determinations (choices); and could ruin any
private citizen by their particular decisions.
This is why many of the kings and princes of Europe, whose goal has
been to attain absolute power, have tried to unite in themselves all the
branches of government.”
“In every government there are three kinds of power. These are the
legislative, the executive, and the judicial powers.
The power of the first (legislative) is to create laws and to change those
that have already been created. The power of the second (executive) is to
maintain the public security (protect the people) by enforcing (carrying
out) the laws. The power of the third (judicial) is to punish criminals and
solve the disputes (arguments) that arise between individuals.
There would be no freedom if the same man or the same group of men
controlled all three powers at the same time. This man or group of men
would have complete control over all parts of the law. They could create
tyrannical (strict/cruel) laws or enforce them like a tyrant. They could
plunder (rob) the country by their choices; and could ruin any private
citizen by their decisions.
Many of the kings and princes of Europe, whose goal has been to attain
(acquire) this kind of absolute power, have tried to unite all the branches
of government in themselves.”
“All educated men who have written on the subject of female education
and behavior have depicted women as artificial (fake), weak characters
and useless members of society. Even Rousseau declares that a woman
should never even for a moment think of herself as independent. She
should be nothing but an attractive object of desire, a sweet companion
to man. This is the purpose of a woman. What nonsense!
I have observed more girls than Rousseau and will dare to say that a girl
whose spirit has not been dampened (reduced, broken) by society will
always be a romp (full of energy). I am fully persuaded (convinced) that
if girls were allowed to take sufficient exercise, and not be confined
(kept) in closed rooms till their muscles are weak, and their powers of
thought destroyed, women could do anything. They might even study
politics. Educate women like men and the more power women will have.
This is the very thing I aim for. But I do not wish women to have power
over men, but over themselves.”
“All educated men who have written about female education and
behavior have depicted women as artificial (fake), weak, and useless
members of society. Even Rousseau declares that a woman should never
even for a moment think of herself as independent. She should be
nothing but an attractive (pretty) object of desire, a sweet companion
(friend) to man. This is the purpose of a woman. What nonsense!
I have observed more girls than Rousseau and will dare to say that a girl
whose spirit has not been broken by society will always be full of
energy. I am fully convinced that if girls were allowed to take enough
exercise, and not be kept in closed rooms till their muscles are weak, and
their power to think destroyed, women could do anything. They might
even study politics. Educate women like men and women will have
more power. This is the very thing I want. But I do not wish women to
have power over men, but over themselves.”
Thomas Hobbes
1. Identify: According to Thomas Hobbes, why do men become enemies?
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3. Justify: According to Thomas Hobbes, what do men have to do in order to avoid war? Do you agree
with Hobbes? Explain.
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4. Analyze: What type of government do you think Thomas Hobbes would want? Explain, and BE
SPECIFIC.
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John Locke
1. Identify: According to John Locke, what are the “natural rights” of all men?
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2. Explain: According to John Locke, why do people unite to form communities and governments?
When should people disobey or rebel against the government?
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3. Analyze: What type of government do you think John Locke would want? Explain, and BE SPECIFIC
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4. Analyze: In what ways do you think the ideas expressed by John Locke influenced Western
political thought?
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Jean-Jacques Rousseau
1. Explain: What does Rousseau mean when he says “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in
chains”? Explain.
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2. Summarize: According to Rousseau, how does a government created by the Social Contract work?
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3. Explain: According to Rousseau, how does a man keep his freedom under a government created by
the Social Contract?
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4. Analyze: What type of government do you think Rousseau would want? Explain, and BE SPECIFIC
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Charles de Montesquieu
1. Explain: According to Montesquieu, what are the three kinds of power in every government?
What does each one of these powers do?
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2. Explain: According to Montesquieu, what happens when one group or individual controls all three
of these powers? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Explain.
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3. Analyze: What type of government do you think Montesquieu would want? Explain, and BE
SPECIFIC
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4. Analyze: In what ways do you think the ideas expressed by Montesquieu influenced Western
political thought?
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Mary Wollstonecraft
1. Identify: According to Wollstonecraft, how do men of the time period view women? What does
Wollstonecraft think about this?
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2. Explain: According to Wollstonecraft, what is holding women back (from studying politics, for
example)?
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3. Explain: What does Wollstonecraft mean when she says, “I do not wish for them to have power
over men, but over themselves”? Explain.
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4. Analyze: In what ways do you think the ideas expressed by Wollstonecraft influenced Western
political thought?
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